RFK Jr. is withdrawing COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for pregnant women and children this week in the midst of a new COVID-19 variant that has swept through China and caused mass hospitalizations. This new variant has now made it’s way to NYC.
“Legal experts said the Trump administration appointee’s decision, which Kennedy announced on social media, circumvented the CDC’s authority to recommend such changes – and that it is unprecedented for a health secretary to unilaterally make such a decision.”
This is a huge mistake and I hope that people will not follow this advice.
What is the impact of viral infection on the brain?
Viruses that infect the brain, which include COVID-19 and Herpes Viruses (shingles) have a large impact on brain volume and health.
There is an increase in brain fog symptoms, loss of smell, tingling, and motor issues, which are all related to neuron and brain problems, that are associated with COVID infection and long COVID. Anxiety and mood disorders are elevated in 25% of long COVID patients. People with long COVID have worse memory and executive function.
Long COVID is also associated with substantial losses of brain volume on MRI. For a review see “Acute and long-term effects of COVID-19 on brain and mental health: A narrative review”. Researchers have also seen changes in brain function on MRI lasting at least two years out from infection.
Additionally blood biomarkers commonly used to assess Alzheimer’s risk, GFAP and NFL, are elevated post COVID-19 infection. This demonstrates a connection between dementia promotion and COVID-19 infection.
Earlier this year, a study was published that used clever methods to assess shingles vaccination and rates and risk of dementia. It found that shingles vaccination reduced relative dementia risk by ~20%.
How do these viruses impact brain health?
COVID-19 may cause demyelination, which means it removes the coating around your neuron wiring (axons) and makes them fire slower. There is also conjecture that COVID-19 may be causing damage to the brain through inflammation.
Shingles, which is caused by activation of the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox, may increase risk of dementia in three ways: 1. reducing inflammation 2. altering immune function 3. reducing stroke risk. There is a link between stroke, cardiovascular health, and having a shingles episode. More research is needed on these connections.
I’ve already had COVID-19, does being infected again matter?
Most people in the US have been infected with COVID-19 already. Unfortunately, being infected multiple times does increase risk according to research out of Washington U.:
”The researchers found that repeat SARS-CoV-2 infections contribute significant additional risk of adverse health conditions in multiple organ systems.
Such outcomes include hospitalization; disorders affecting the lungs, heart, brain, and the body’s blood, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal systems; and even death. Reinfection also contributes to diabetes, kidney disease and mental health issues.”
The bottom line
It’s wise for older people to get the shingles vaccine for dementia prevention. It’s still important to get vaccinated for COVID-19 with the new boosters especially for those concerned about their brain health, which really should be everyone. The new variant is a wild card and may be severe. Immunity from either prior vaccination or infection begins to wane after 6-9 months so most people are no longer protected from infection if they haven’t been boosted. New variants also make it more likely that people will become infected because they have “immune escape” due to their mutations. Being infected multiple times results in worse outcomes for the brain and other organs.
